Honolulu councilwoman seeks audit of rail project
Suggesting that fraud may be the cause of cost overruns, City Council newcomer Heidi Tsuneyoshi is demanding a forensic audit of contracts tied to a plan to build a transit system for
RTA eyes 9 Chicago projects, Metra ticket office to close
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the agency that oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace Suburban Bus and Pace ADA-Paratransit, is requesting public feedback regarding nine Chicago-area projects being proposed
California governor nixes SF-LA high-speed train
Gov. Gavin Newsom, citing budget pressures, says the state will not move forward with plans to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco by a high-speed rail link.
Buffalo’s Metro Rail could get new, long-term funding for maintenance
New York State legislators are eyeing a plan to set aside $100 million to fund maintenance work in Buffalo’s light-rail system.
FRA issues more than $56M in CRISI grant funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) last week announced the availability of $56,933,567 in grant funding for 18 projects in 16 states.
Norfolk Southern operating ratio targeted at 60 percent; Job cuts planned
Norfolk Southern plans to hold its capital expenditures between 16 percent and 18 percent of revenues through 2021, as the railroad targets an operating ratio of 60 percent by that year.
TKDA selects Lechowicz as Chicago office group manager
Engineering and architecture firm TKDA has appointed Eric Lechowicz as group manager for the firm’s rail architecture team based in its Chicago office.
Construction, maintenance projects to close San Diego rail corridor this weekend
A series of track building and maintenance programs in the San Diego area will cause major headaches this weekend for four railroads when all train traffic is suspended on the San Diego
CSX annual report yields new details on capital spending
CSX has filed its annual report with securities regulators, and the document contains some items of interest to railroad contractors and vendors.
VHB lands contract for environmental review of proposed Brooklyn Queens Connector
A proposal to build the Brooklyn Queens Connector, a streetcar line linking the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, took a step toward reality today as the city’s Economic Development
Stantec adds two to transportation team
Global design and engineering firm Stantec recently added two senior executives to its transportation team.
Genesee & Wyoming to increase capex slightly
Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. is expected to increase its capital spending slightly this year after earnings beat analyst estimates. That’s the takeaway from G&W’s earnings report, released today, and a
Getting a Grip on Friction Management
Friction management remains one of the best tools available to reduce wear, lateral track loading and energy consumption. Managing friction is a balancing act. Too much friction (resulting from little or no
R.J. Corman launches track upgrade in South Carolina
R.J. Corman Railroad Company is upgrading 9 miles of track in South Carolina to allow for faster freight service on the former Carolina Southern Railroad. The company and local officials announced over the
Amtrak taps Winters as inspector general
Amtrak’s Board of Directors has selected Kevin Winters as the passenger railroad’s new inspector general, effective immediately.
AFL buys catenary hardware maker IMPulse
AFL has acquired IMPulse NC LLC, a manufacturer of overhead electrification systems and catenary hardware, as AFL expands its offering for rail transit systems. Headquartered in Mount Olive, North Carolina, IMPulse makes power
Tampa transit agency chooses Benjamin Limmer as CEO
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Agency (HART), which operates public transportation services around Tampa, named Benjamin Limmer as its next CEO. Limmer has spent the past three years as assistant general manager at Atlanta’s
Harsco Rail to close Michigan plant
Harsco Rail will close its manufacturing facility in Ludington, Mich., as the company consolidates production operations in Columbia, South Carolina. Some 134 workers will be affected, according to local media reports and social-media
Michael Baker hires rail vets for California practice
Michael Baker International, an engineering and design consultant, has hired two well-known veterans of the California high-speed rail scene to help build its business in the West. Thomas Post, P.E., will serve
Virgin Trains USA prepares for NASDAQ IPO
Virgin Trains USA announced Jan. 30 that it is launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 28,334,000 shares of common stock. The NASDAQ Global Select Market listing is expected to raise $17